[Rating: Swiss Fist]
In Theaters Friday, April 11, 2025
What if men were better prepared for fatherhood? How much damage – be it emotional, mental, or physical – do our parents levy upon us?
Sacramento is a brisk 90-minute dramedy that tries to answer these questions. And it does, to an extent. But with strong themes of fatherhood throughout the film, the audience could have benefited from an extra 20 or so minutes from director Michael Angarano.
Angarano, who also wrote the film with Chris Smith, stars as Rickey. When we first meet Rickey, he’s being told by Tallie (Maya Erskine) that he has an unreliable face. That jab will make sense later in the movie.
Soon after meeting Rickey, we meet Glenn (Michael Cera), an anxiety-ridden young adult who’s expecting his first child with his wife Rosie (Kristen Stewart). Glenn is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, whereas Rickey is the easygoing friend who tries not to let anything bother him.
After a lunch outing in Los Angeles, the two joke about taking a random road-trip to Sacramento. We don’t know how far into the drive they get, but Glenn eventually tries to turn the car around before we’re hit with the news that Rickey needs to get to Sacramento to spread his recently departed father’s ashes. Even though this wasn’t planned, and after some gentle pushing from his wife Rosie, Glenn agrees to continue the adventure.
The problem with Sacramento, along with only being 90 minutes, is that audiences just saw a better version of this film with A Real Pain. Except in Jesse Eisenberg’s film, the audience feels like there is a real discussion being had, not just by the characters but by Eisenberg and what it means to deal with generational trauma through familiar relationships.
Sacramento could have made some impactful statements. Along with skirting around the discussion of fatherhood, there are some missed opportunities to dive into the idea that it’s hard to keep friends as an adult. At that lunch before the road trip, Rickey tells Glenn that they’re “down to one meal a year” despite living in the same city.
Their road trip is when the two should confront and address any issues they’re having. But neither wants to admit they’re wrong, leading to a funny exchange where Rickey tries to explain common therapeutic lingo, but Glenn has heard it all before.
The film detours, opting for fluff and gags, which are entertaining, especially if you live in California’s capital city, instead of depth. There’s enough to get you invested in these characters, but I left wanting more. If there’s a sequel, maybe the two can opt for a shorter road trip. Maybe that would force them to break down their issues sooner.
Sidenote: If there are any expecting parents reading this, or people who are thinking of becoming parents, a fun double-feature would be Sacramento and Nightbitch, which would cover both the mother and father’s side of what to expect.
Joe Jarosz is a Midwest boy living in California. As much as he likes to think he has an edge, he’s quick to cry at the latest animated movie he takes his kid to see.
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